Little Gem Magnolia With Brown Leaves

Little Gem magnolias (Magnolia grandiflora "Little Gem") offer the home garden all the rich green foliage and fluffy, creamy white flowers that the Southern magnolia offers, but on a smaller scale. This cultivar reaches a shorter mature height than Southern magnolias at approximately 40 to 60 feet with a width of 20 to 30 feet. Unfortunately, the strong visual impact these evergreens impart may become damaged as leaves turn brown from underlying health problems. Address issues as they arise with appropriate control measures.

Preventive Care

Providing the best care possible to Little Gem magnolias gives them a heightened ability to escape and overcome pest and disease problems. Little Gem magnolias thrive in areas of the garden that provide full sun to partial shade. These trees function well in a variety of soil types, though the connection between soil and sun conditions is significant. Trees grown in moist soil can handle full sunlight, whereas those grown in dry soil conditions fare better in partial shade. Little Gem magnolias perform best in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 5 to 9.

Considerations

Certain cultivars of Southern magnolias develop leaves with green upper surfaces and brown undersides. The Little Gem magnolia cultivar is known for this double-hued foliage. Though a brown leaf underside is often a symptom of a problem, this is not necessarily the case. Prized by many home gardeners for the aesthetic appeal, Little Gems display a fuzzy, deeply brown-hued bottom leaf surface. Gardeners may feel the velvety texture and note the uniformly deep color as a reassurance of this normal aspect of Little Gem magnolia development that acts as a prized ornamental feature.

Pests

When green Little Gem magnolia foliage turns brown, pests may be to blame. Bugs such as the magnolia weevil, also known as the sassafras weevil or yellow poplar weevil, feed on magnolias. Becoming most active during spring, these pests feed on foliage before and after bud break. The white larvae feed on tissue inside of developing leaves while the 1/10-inch black adult beetles chew large holes into growing leaves. Affected leaf parts often turn brown and appear burned, as if by fire. To control these pests, home gardeners may remove and destroy affected plant parts. In addition, sprays of a pesticide with an active ingredient such as acephate offers control. However, the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture suggests waiting until a tree appears to have suffered 10 percent damage before spraying, as established trees often remain healthy despite the infestation.

Disease

Brown leaves on a Little Gem magnolia may be the result of a bacterial infection called bacterial blight. Caused by the pathogen Pseudomonas syringae, this disease first appears as spots on leaf surfaces, forming large, brown areas of necrotic tissue. Gardeners should expect this disease during rain-filled springs, as blight develops during cool, wet weather. As the disease progresses, areas of dying plant tissue develop on stems, sometimes secreting a sticky substance. The tree may experience dieback and decline. To control bacterial blight, gardeners should utilize direct watering methods instead of overhead irrigation, as standing water provides the ideal conditions for this bacterial disease. Removing and destroying affected plant parts contributes to the decrease of disease intensity. In addition, applications of a copper bactericide offer effective control in conjunction with cultural efforts.

About the Author

Tarah Damask's writing career began in 2003 and includes experience as a fashion writer/editor for Neiman Marcus, short fiction publications in "North Texas Review," a self-published novel, band biographies, charter school curriculum and articles for various websites. Damask holds a Master of Arts in English and creative writing from the University of North Texas.